Garter top stocking



Oct. 1s, 1932.

GARTER TOP' STOCKING Filed Aug. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. J. BEER-GER 1,883,495

FIG: FIG. I.

WITNESSES fa v Emfly y lf TORNEYS.

1932. E. J. BERGER GARTER TOP STOCKING Filed Au 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Shgeet 2 W I TNESSES INVENTdR: E'mzl Jfleryer' BY TORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EMIL J. BERGER, 0F HATFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DEXDALE HOSIERY MILLS, 0F LANSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA GARTEB. To]? srocxrnc Application filed August 18, 1931. Serial No. 557,807.

This invention relates to stockings with elastic garter tops, and also to methods of making such stockings.

Heretofore stockings of the type referred to were made by attaching to the tops of the otherwise finished stockings, elastic strip material, either by hand sewing or by overedge stitching on seaming machines. The junctures thus made between the stocking fabric and the garters were bulky, unsightly and liable to interfere with the free stretch of both the stocking fabric and of the garter.

'My invention has for its main object to.

overcome the drawbacks just referred to; and this desideratum I secure, as .hereinafter fully set forth, by incorporating a length of elastic strip material incident to production of a stocking on a knitting machine, with attendant penetration of the elastic strip material along one edge by the course of loops along the top edge of the stocking leg. The juncture made under these conditions does not protrude beyond either face of the stocking, and therefore does not in any way mar the appearance of the stocking.

Also as hereinafter fully explained, my-

invention is adaptable to the manufacture of garter top stockings with welts, as well as stockings with plain knit upper leg portions.

Still other objects and attendant advantages will be manifest from the detailed description following when taken in connec tion with the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I illustrates a full-fashioned ladies welt stocking conveniently embodying the incorporated garter top of my invention.

Fig. II shows diagrammatically a fragmentary sectional view at the region of juncture of the garter top with the stocking, 221F811]: as indicated by the arrows II.-II in Fi III is a fra mentary view, correspon ing to Fig. I, s owing an alternative form of my invention in which the garter material is concealed within the welt of the stocking.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary diagrammatic sectional view taken as indicated .by the arrows IV-IV in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a view similar to Figs. I and III showing the garter material incorporated in accordance with my invention, in a stock ing devoid of a welt.

Figs. VI, VII, VIII vand IX are diagrammatic illustrations showing successive steps incident to the production of the garter top stocking shown in Figs. I and II on a full fashioned knitting machine.

Figs. X, XI, XII and XIII, in turn, show successive steps in the production of the stocking of Figs. .III and IV on a full fashioned knitting machine.

The stocking illustrated 111 Fig. I has the usual leg and foot portions 1 and 2, and a Welt 3. The improved garter top of my invention is comprehensively indicated at 4, the same being formed from a woven strip 5 of elastic fabric with longitudinally extending rubber inlay yarns, and attached along one edge to the top edge of the welt 3 as a consequence of penetration by the fabric loops along the fold line 6 of said welt. As conventionally indicated, this fold line 6 is, in the present instance, formed as a course of laterally-transferred or picot loops. By virs tue of attachment of the elastic material 5 as described, the juncture 6 between the stock ing welt 3 and the garter top 4 is absolutely flush, that is to say, without projection beyond either face of the stocking fabric.

The stocking illustrated in Fig. III is likewise of the full fashioned variety having a welt 3a at the top of its leg portion 1a, but in this case the elastic garter material 5a is concealed within the fold of the welt 3a. Here again, however, the elastic strip material 5a, constituting the garter 4a, is edge attached along the line 6a of the fold of the welt 3a, which line, as in the type of stocking shown in Fig. I, may be formed as a course of laterally-transferred or picot loops.

The stocking plain knit leg portion 1?) with the elastic garter strip 56 attached through penetration by the course of loops 6?) along the top edge of the stocking fabric.

The manner in which I produce the stocking of Figs. I and II will be readily understood from Figs. VI-IX, the procedure being illu strated in Fig. V has a.

. ordinary 'tration by them of the strip 5; and,

as follows I first impale one edge of the elastic strip material 5 upon the needles N of an flat knitting machine as in Fig. V1, with the aid of a topping bar (not shown), and incidentally depress the said strip material alongthe shanks of the needles N beneath the knock-overs K, or, in other words, below the knitting level. After knittinghalf the length 7 of the welt fabric as also shown in Fig. VI, I raise the elastic strip material 5 to the knitting level, i. e. between the sinkers S and the knockovers K as in Fi VII. I then knit a line of loops with atten ant peneafter transferring loops from alternate needles N and doubling them with the loops on adjacent needles to form the picot course 6, proceed with the knitting of the remaining half 8 of the welt fabric as in Fig. VIII. The next step consists in closing the welt 3 with the aid of the welt bar shown at B; and I thereupon finally knit the leg and foot portions 2 and 3 of the stocking in the usual manner. 1

To produce the stocking of Figs. III and IV, I proceed after the manner shown in Figs. X-XIII, i. e. I first knithalf the length 7a of the welt fabric on the needles N of the knitting machine as in Fig. X, and then impale one edge of the elastic strip material on the said needles as in Fig. XI. I thereupon form a course of picot loops as before,

- with incident penetration by said loops, of the elastic strip material 5a. Upon accomplishment of the foregoing I knit the remalning half 8a of the welt fabric as in Fig. XII then close the welt as in Fig. XIII to include the elastic garter material 5a within its fold; and finally, I knit the leg and foot portions 'in direct continuation to complete the blank. To produce the stocking of Fig. V, I impale the elastic garter material 56 on the needles of the knitting machine above the nibs of the sinkers S, and immediately proceed with the knitting of the leg portion after the formation of the line of picot 'uncture loops.

When the selvage' e ges of the stocking blanks, made under either of the above de scribed methods, are superposed upon one another and seamed after common practice in the art, it is evident that the ends of the strip garter material will, as a matter of course, be joined as the over edge stitching is run past the welt.

Although I have herein specifically described my invention in connection with full fashioned stockings, it will be evident to those skilled in hosiery manufacture that the same may be embodied, with attainment of like advantages, in seamless stockings as well as in short or mens hose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. As a, new article of manufacture, a knit stocking with a welt top, and an elastic garter with the edge thereof attached at the fold of the welt.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a knit stocking with a welt top, and an elastic garter attached through penetration of one of its edges by the course of fabric loops along the fold of the welt.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a knit stocking with a welt top, and an elastic garter attached through penetration of one of its edges by a course of picot loops along the fold of the welt.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a knit stocking with a welt top, and an elastic garter concealed within the welt and having its edge attached at the fold line of the said welt.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a knit stocking with a welt top, and an elastic garter concealed within the bein attached through penetration of one of its e ges by the course of the fabric loops along the fold of the welt.

.6. The method of making top welt stocking, which comprises impaling one edge of a length of elastic strip material on the needles of a knitting machine; knitting half the length of the welt fabric with the elastic strip material maintained depressed on theneedle shanks below the knitting level; then raising the elastic strip material to the knitting level; then knitting the remaining half of the welt fabric; then turnin finally knitting the leg and oot portions of the stocking in the usual manner.

7. The method of making a garter top welt stocking, which com rises impaling one edge of alength of elastic strip material on the needles of a knitting machine; then knitting half the length of the welt fabric while maintaming the elastic strip material depressed on the needle shanks below the knitting level; then raising the elastic strip material to the knitting level; then forming a course of picot loops t rough the elastic strip material; then knitting the remaining half of the welt fabric;

stocking in the usual manner.

8. The method of making a garter top welt stocking, which comprises knitting half the length of the welt fabric on the needles of a knitting machine; then impaling upon the said nee es one edge of a length of elastic strip material; then knitting the remaining hal of the welt fabric; then turning the welt so as to include the elastic strip material within the fold of the welt; and finally knittinglthe leg and foot portions of the stocking in t e usual manner.

' 9. The method of making a garter top welt stocking, which com rises knitting half the length of the welt fa ric on the needles of a knitting machine; thenimpaling upon the said needles one ed e of a length of elastic strip material; then knitting a course of picot then closing the welt; and finally knltting the leg and foot portions of the welt, the said garter the welt; and A lot t Lansdale, Pennsylvania, 

